US20030093883A1 - Plastic retaining clip for rib attachment - Google Patents

Abstract

A resilient clip for engaging a structure and having a body portion with a pair of top flanges, a pair of fastening members and a pair of abutting flanges. Each of the fastening members has a base portion that is coupled to an associated one of the top flanges. Each of the abutting flanges has a locking fingers which engages the mounting structure. Finger flange portions are configured to engage a first side of a mounting flange on an interior trim component.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present invention relates generally to resilient clip fasteners and more particularly to a resilient clip fastener that employs a two piece geometry to secure the body portion of the resilient clip to a structure. More specifically, the present invention relates to a resilient clip fastener having a construction that utilizes a plastic body portion which is coupled to a metal retainer having abutment flanges to couple of an attachment flange. The invention also relates to a resilient clip fastener having a construction that accounts in several manners for part-to-part variation between the structures that are to be fastened together.[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Many current vehicles employ resilient clips to secure various components to the vehicle body. One such application concerns interior panels that mount to the interior of the vehicle such as on the doors. Such panels serve not only to provide occupants with a convenient point to grasp during ingress to and egress from the vehicle, but also provide energy absorption during a crash event.[0002]
• During assembly of the vehicle, it is conventional procedure of the entire panel assembly to be installed onto the interior of the vehicle in a single operation. In other words, the panel assembly is passed through either the windshield or backlight opening of the vehicle body on the assembly line and then the panel assembly is secured by line operators to the interior of the vehicle.[0003]
• In order to accomplish this assembly task, the panel assembly is typically equipped with numerous fasteners, located around the periphery of the panel assembly as well as at predetermined locations around the interior area of the panel, that are adapted to penetrate through corresponding holes located in the reinforcing sheet metal members of the vehicle interior. It is the responsibility of the line operators to properly orient the panel assembly adjacent the interior of the vehicle and press the fasteners into the various mounting holes in the reinforcing sheet metal members to secure the panel assembly to the interior of the vehicle.[0004]
• For aesthetic reasons, the panel fasteners are typically secured in some fashion to the backside of the panel so that they are not visible from the interior of the vehicle after the panel assembly is installed. Consequently, it is often incumbent upon the line operators to blindly “feel” for the location of the mounting holes with their fingers before pressing the fasteners into the holes from the opposite show-surface side of the panel.[0005]
• Due to slight misalignments, which can occur between the fasteners and their corresponding mounting holes, some of the fasteners may not be properly seated and secured to the sheet metal.[0006]
• Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for an improved fastener having a relatively low installation force and a relatively high removal force that is relatively more tolerant of misalignment problems. Ideally, the fastener should be inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and simple to install. Furthermore, the fastener should be particularly adapted for securing structures to one another in a manner, which minimizes vibration, and the concomitant noise problems that are often associated with such fasteners.[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In one preferred form, the present invention provides a resilient clip for engaging a structure. The resilient clip includes a body portion having a coupling region, a metal retainer is coupled to the coupling region. The metal fastener a pair of fastening members an abutting flange. Each of the fastening members are coupled by a base portion that is coupled to an associated top flange. The abutting flange has fingers that engages the mounting structure.[0008]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:[0009]
• FIG. 1 is a front view of a fastener constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;[0010]
• FIG. 2 is a side view of the fastener of FIG. 1;[0011]
• FIG. 3 is a top view of a portion of the fastener of FIG. 1 illustrating the spacing of the structures in greater detail;[0012]
• FIGS. 4[0013]aand4bare perspective views of the fastener shown in FIG. 1;
• FIG. 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention;[0014]
• FIG. 6 is a front view of the two-piece fastener shown in FIG. 4;[0015]
• FIG. 7 is a top view of the fastener shown in FIG. 5; and[0016]
• FIGS. 8[0017]aand8bare perspective views of the fastener shown in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4[0018]b,a two-piece fastener20 in accordance with the present invention is disclosed. The two-piece fastener20 is defined by aplastic body portion22 and ametal retainer24. Integral with themetal retainer24 are pairs oflocking fingers26 and27 disposed on abuttingflanges28 and29 which are used to couple the two-piece fastener20 to amounting flange31 of trim component (not shown). Additionally, thebody portion22 has alocking portion30 which is formed by twosets32 and34 of threelocking members36,38,40. The twosets32 and34 of threelocking members36,38,40 are coupled together at aproximal end42 by an angled or wedge-shaped member44. The twosets32 and34 of threelocking members36,38,40 are coupled together at adistal end46 by a sealingumbrella portion48. Each of the threelocking members36,38,40 define retaining snap inteeth50 which facilitate the coupling of theplastic body portion22 to asheet metal structure51.
• The[0019]umbrella portion48 functions to seal the mounting hole53 in thesheet metal structure51 and is formed of an ovalplanar portion49 which is surrounded by a generally ovaldeformable portion55. Theteeth50 are configured to pull the deformable oval portion onto thesheet metal51.
• Coupled to the[0020]distal end46 and disposed on the sealingumbrella portion48 is aretaining flange52 which functions to fluidly seal the aperture. Cut into theretaining flange52 is aslot54 which couples to ametal flange56 on themetal retainer24. Disposed within theslot54 is a pair ofmembers58 which facilitate the frictional engagement of theslot54 with themetal flange56.
• Generally, the[0021]abutting flanges28 of themetal retainer24 are defined by three portions. Thefirst portion60 is defined by a planarengaging surface62. Disposed on the planarengaging surface62 is a first pair ofengaging fingers64 and66, which point toward the proximal end of thebody portion22. Thefirst portion60 further has anangled insertion portion68 which facilitates the insertion of themounting flange31. The second andthird portions70 and72 are coplanar and defined by planarengaging surfaces74 and76. Each of the planarengaging surface74 and76 are generally parallel to thefirst portion60 and have a pair of engaging fingers78 and90 which function to fix the mounting flange within themetal retainer24. The engaging fingers of the first embodiment point generally toward the proximal end of thebody22 and act in conjunction with theengaging fingers64 to clasp themounting flange31. Thefirst portion60 further defines atransition member92 which couples the first portion to themetal flange56 on themetal retainer24. Disposed between thefirst portion60 and the second andthird portions70 and72 is acurved coupling region71. Thecurved coupling region71 functions as a spring member and biases the first throughthird portions60,70,72 together.
• Referring generally to FIGS. 5 through 8[0022]bwhich depict views of a two-piece fastener93 according to the teachings of a second embodiment of the current invention. Shown is a second type ofmetal retainer94 coupled to theplastic body portion22. Themetal retainer94 is generally S-shaped and has a pair ofabutting flanges96 and98. The first abuttingflange96 has two pair of parallel fingers which engage themounting flange31 of a trim component. Bothabutting flanges96 and98 haveangled portions102 and104 which function to guide themounting flange31 between theabutting flanges96 and98. Themetal retainer94 includes a c-shaped flange106 which is configured to be elastically deformed so that it can couple to aplastic flange108 on theumbrella portion48 of theplastic body portion22. Theplastic flange108 has a tooth portion110 which engages anengaging finger112 on the c-shapedflange106.
• FIG. 5 is a side view of the two-[0023]piece fastener93 and shows the relationship of the abuttingflanges96 and98 to mountingflange31. As can be seen, themetal retainer94 defines anupper keyhole slot46 which facilitates the displacement of the abuttingflanges96 and98 when the mountingflange31 is inserted. Theumbrella portion48 of theplastic body portion22 further has astop114 defined thereon. The stop additionally functions to prevent rotation of themetal retainer94 with respect to thebody portion22. The stop is configured to limit the amount of insertion of the mountingflange31. Further depicted is the angular relationship of the c-shapedflange106 which couples to aplastic flange108.
• FIG. 6 depicts a front view of the two-[0024]piece fastener93. Shown is the first abuttingflanges96 and98 which have two pair ofparallel fingers104 and106 which engage the mountingflange31. Both abuttingflanges96 and98 have angledportions102 an104 which function to guide the mountingflange31 between the abuttingflanges96 and98. The interiorconvex surface50 of the abuttingflange98 is configured to engage mountingflange31 to hold the trim component in place. Also depicted is theinterior surface57 of thefinger members105 and106, which engage the surfaces of the mountingflange31.
• The foregoing discussion discloses and describes exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such a discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications, and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.[0025]

Claims (21)

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener for coupling a flanged component to an aperture comprising:

a body portion having a locking portion configured to be mated with the aperture, said body portion having a retaining flange;

a metal retainer comprising an engagement member coupled to the retaining flange and a pair of generally parallel locking flanges, at least one of the locking flanges having a locking member, the locking member configured to releasably engage the flanged component.

2. The fastener according toclaim 1 wherein the body comprises an umbrella member coupled to the retaining flange, the umbrella member being configured to fluidly seal the aperture.

3. The fastener according toclaim 1 wherein the locking portion comprises a plurality of deformable members, each member defining a tooth configured to engage the aperture.

4. The fastener according toclaim 3 wherein the deformable members are coupled to the umbrella member.

5. The fastener according toclaim 3 wherein the deformable members are coupled to a wedged-shaped portion.

6. The fastener according toclaim 1 wherein the retaining flange defines a tooth portion configured to mate with the metal retainer.

7. The fastener according toclaim 6 wherein the metal retainer defines an engagement finger configured to engage the tooth portion.

8. The fastener according toclaim 1 wherein the retaining flange defines an aperture configured to releasably engage the retaining flange.

9. The fastener according toclaim 1 wherein the metal retainer comprises a generally c-shaped flange configured to engage the retaining flange.

10. The fastener according toclaim 6 wherein the metal retainer comprises a generally c-shaped flange configured to engage the tooth portion.

11. A fastener for coupling a flanged component to an aperture defined in sheet metal comprising:

a body portion comprising a locking portion configured to mate with the aperture, and an umbrella portion, said umbrella portion defining a retaining flange; and

a metal retainer comprising a pair of retention flanges, at least one of said retaining flanges defining an angled insertion portion, and at least one of said retention flanges having a retaining finger configured to engage the flange of the component.

12. The fastener according toclaim 11 further comprising a c-shaped flange configured to mate with the retaining flange.

13. The fastener according toclaim 11 wherein the retaining flange defines an aperture configured to releasably engage the retaining flange.

14. The fastener according toclaim 11 wherein the retaining flange comprises a tooth.

15. The fastener according toclaim 11 wherein the locking member defines a plurality of deformable flanges, at least one of the deformable flanges defines a tooth configured to mate with the aperture.

16. The fastener according toclaim 15 wherein the deformable flanges are coupled to the umbrella portion.

17. The fastener according toclaim 15 wherein the deformable flanges are coupled by a wedge-shaped member.

18. A fastener for coupling a flange component to an aperture comprising:

a body portion defining a locking portion and an umbrella portion, the umbrella portion defining a retaining member, the retaining member defining a tooth;

an s-shaped metallic retainer comprising a pair of generally parallel retaining flanges, the retaining flanges defining an angled insertion portion and at least one retention tooth, the metallic retainer further having a c-shaped flange configured to engage the retaining member of the body portion.

19. The fastener according toclaim 18 wherein the body portion comprises a stop configured to limit the insertion of the flange of the component.

20. The fastener according toclaim 18 wherein the umbrella defines a generally oval base and an oval deformable portion.

21. The fastener according toclaim 19 wherein the stop restricts the movement of the s-shaped metallic retainer.

Images